Katharine Hope McPhee was born on March 25, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. She moved to Sherman Oaks in the San Fernando Valley when she was 12 years old. Her father, Daniel, was a Television producer and her mother, Patricia, was a vocal coach and talented cabaret singer. She had a sister, Adriana, who is two years older. Her mother recognized her talent at a very early age, and coached and encouraged her. McPhee graduated from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Notre Dame is a Catholic Co-ed Preparatory High School. Katharine was involved with her sister in theatrical productions in high school, but also served as student body vice president and was on the varsity swimming team. Both Katharine and her old sister were nominated as Homecoming princesses in their senior years. After graduation, she attended Boston Conservatory intending to major in Musical Theater. After 3 semesters, her manager encouraged her to quit school and begin auditioning for TV pilots in Los Angeles. She was not an instant success. She was quoted in a People magazine article telling of almost two hundred failed auditions. During this period, she did perform in some local professional theater productions including the lead role in “Annie Get Your Gun.”